Philadelphia Union booked their tickets to Los Angeles last night beating New York City Football Club for the third time this year and winning the Eastern Conference Playoffs for the first time in their history. The game was a chippy affair but Union prevailed 3-1 by exploiting a weakened NYCFC backline.
The match was a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference final between the two teams. Last year the Union had eleven players unavailable due to COVID protocols and fell hard done by the result. This year it was NYCFC you came in weakened missing Maxime Chanot, their starting center back and the young Brazilian phenom, Talles Magno.
Nick Cushing seemed determined to stick with the formation that got him the recent run of form and inserted Justin Haak into the back three in place of Chanot. While Haak performed well for most of the match he would ultimately be outdone on all of the Union goals.
The first half was tight and aggressive from both teams with NYCFC controlling possession but the Union having the better chances on goals. Fouls were plentiful as the Union seemed to have a game plan of attacking and pressing hard when NYCFC were in their own half. Ultimately the game was tied at half with both team going into their locker rooms feeling positive.
Photo: Charlotte Thomas
NYCFC started the second half more aggressively and seemed to break the game wide open in the 57 minute with a beautifully built up goal by Maxi Moralez. The play started from keeper, Sean Johnson, and then developed through almost the entire team, weaving in and out of the Union defense and setting up the opening goal.
NYC would nearly strike again moments later but Andre Blake would earn his goalkeeper of the year status with a great save off an Alexander Callens header. Then the floodgates opened.
Taking advantage of the repositioning by NYCFC after subbing on Keaton Parks, Julian Caranza caught Haak sleeping on the restart from a free kick and made a sharp run behind. Jakob Glesnes found him with a good quick ball and NYCFC was leading no more.
Photo: Charlotte Thomas
Two minutes later Haak was caught out again Daniel Gazdag got in behind and Caranza found him for an open header on goal. The Union lead 2-1 and NYCFC were visibly stunned.
In searching for an equalizer, NYCFC pushed harder up the pitch and stretched their backline even further. Substitute Cory Burke made them pay winning the ball from Haak and fighting his way to a clear shot on goal. After that it was celebration mode for the Union and NYCFC could only see their season end with a feeling of what could have been.
Nick Cushing pointed to two moments that were the deciding factor in the game. “Two moments. I think there were two huge moments. One at one-nil, [Alexander] Callens’ header forced an incredible save. And then, obviously the set play where we just lose our concentration and they get in and get it to one-one. And then we just don’t manage those next three-four minutes well enough and we know what it’s like here in Philadelphia. The crowd gets on and they get you in that moment. The game can go from one-one to two-one really quickly.”
NYCFC and Cushing will have lots to ponder in the offseason. First the team will decide wether to give Cushing the job permanently. It seem the coach has done enough despite the huge slide from the top after Ronny Deila left mid season. But questions remain. The back three he is so fond of only really work with a healthy backline of Callens, Chanot, and Martins. If Cushing is left in charge he will need to address that and the team will need to keep their players with expiring contracts.
For the Union, it is on to LA where the finals will see a match up of the number one seeds in each conference for the first time in decades. It promises to be an all out affair with LAFC dispatching Austin earlier yesterday. This time Philadelphia will have to overcome the environment and the crowd. It should be a great game between to very deserving teams.
